This was written for CAS 832: Strategic Message Development in the Michigan State University Strategic Communications MA program. Introduction Consistency and commitment are powerful principles in human psychology. Cialdini (2014) states that individuals share a desire to appear consistent because society views this virtue as valuable. Consistency pairs closely with commitment: in the pursuit to appear consistent, people often commit to behaviors that adhere fiercely to an ac

In the Public, I: Consistency and Commitment in Written Statements Introduction Consistency and commitment are powerful principles in human psychology. Cialdini (2014) states that individuals share a desire to appear consistent because society views this virtue as valuable. Consistency pairs closely with commitment: in the pursuit to appear consistent, people often commit to behaviors that adhere fiercely to an action or to an opinion. Cialdini (2014) highlights the power of